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CNN Sunday Morning

Connecticut Elementary School Shooting; President Obama Heading to Newtown Today

Aired December 16, 2012 - 07:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning, everyone. I'm John Berman. We're in Newtown, Connecticut, this morning.

KATE BOLDUAN, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning. I'm Kate Bolduan. And you're watching our continuing coverage of the Connecticut school shooting.

We've been here -- it feels like it just -- it feels like it just happened, but it feels like we've been here a long time just trying to figure out what's going on with the story.

President Obama will be coming here later today. He will meet with some of the victims' families and we're told he will speak at a vigil being held tonight.

Meanwhile, the community is grieving. We saw more vigils here last night, really moving vigils. Twenty children and six adults died in Friday's shooting inside Sandy Hook Elementary. We should begin hearing the first funeral plans for some of the victims very soon.

We also want to pass this along. The United Way has set up a Sandy Hook School Fund. Donations, as you can see right there on your screen, donations sent to the Newtown Savings Bank, 39 Main Street, Newtown, Connecticut, right here in Newtown.

This fund will be used to help pay for the funerals of the victims, John.

BERMAN: We want to move on now to the investigation. Police say they have found important evidence during their searches at the school and at the shooter's home. We also know now more about the actual shooting and what weapons were used in it.

CNN national correspondent Susan Candiotti joins me now.

And, Susan, what are we learning this morning?

SUSAN CANDIOTTI, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Hi, John.

Well, we know one thing and that is that federal agents and other investigators who will be back out pounding out the streets today, chasing down leads, information they have that the suspected shooter in this case may have visited gun stores or gun ranges in the days before the attack. However, so far, our sources tell us that those tips have not panned out. We also know that three additional guns have been found, according to our sources, at the home that the shooter shared with his mother. We're standing down the street from that house right now.

We are told that one of those three weapons, which are all described to me as older model rifles, at least one of them have been traced to the mother. They're still conducting additional traces.

And we also know about those three guns that were found at the crime scene. Two handguns and a long gun known as a Bushmaster, that's a semiautomatic rifle. And we also know that investigators know he used one of those guns, have identified which one he used to kill himself, but they're not revealing which one that is.

The long gun is the one that the medical examiner said was used to kill several victims with multiple gunshots.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DR. H. WAYNE CARVER II, CONNECTICUT CHIEF MEDICAL EXAMINER: All the wounds that I know of at this point were caused by the long weapon.

REPORTER: The rifle was the primary weapon?

CARVER: Yes. I believe everybody was hit more than once. Everybody's death was caused by -- everyone that we have completed so far was caused by gunshot wounds. And, obviously, the manner of death on all these cases has been classified as homicide.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CANDIOTTI: Certainly from that description, it's hard to understand, John. I'm sure you'd agree what that scene must have been like and why was each victim shot multiple times. Perhaps we'll get some answers one day.

BERMAN: I simply cannot imagine that scene.

Investigators, obviously, following so many leads now. They were talking to Adam Lanza's father and also his brother, I was in Hoboken, New Jersey, Friday night because police had taken in his brother, Ryan Lanza, for questioning. That was a curious thing as it was happening.

I'd like to know, what are we hearing at this point from them? Do we know?

CANDIOTTI: You know, that older brother has not issued a statement on his own as of yet. We know he was questioned, as you said. This is what we know, according to our sources. That he told investigators that his younger brother had autism. That's all we know.

But certainly, that's not an explanation. No one is saying that it is or even providing any kind of a motive or connection to what happened here. Of course, authorities are looking at everything as they look at profiles.

But we also, as you indicated, have heard now, we got a statement last night from the suspect's father and he issued this statement which reads in part, quote, "Our family is grieving along with all those who have been affected by this enormous tragedy. We are in a state of disbelief and trying to find whatever answers we can. We, too, are asking why."

Those answers seem to be, John, in short supply.

BERMAN: All right. Susan Candiotti, thank you so much, covering this investigation right from the very beginning. Thanks, Susan.

BOLDUAN: As we continue our special coverage here in Newtown, Connecticut, again, we want to welcome our viewers here in the United States and our international viewers, as well, who are just joining us right now.

Newtown is mourning. There is no question about that. And the entire nation is reeling from what is happening here. People have been gathering in vigils and services to try to find some sort of comfort and pay tribute to those who lost their lives all too soon.

We'll bring you some of those images and show you the names and ages of the 20 children and six adults who died at Sandy Hook Elementary School.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

(MUSIC)

SUBTITLE: Charlotte Bacon, 6. Daniel Barden, 7. Rachel Davino, 29. Olivia Engel, 6.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Just a tragic, tragic situation for the teachers, the principals and those angels. That's all I can think about are those angels.

SUBTITLE: Josephine Gay, 7. Dawn Hochsprung, 47. Dylan Hockley, 6. Madeleine Hsu, 6.

(MUSIC)

SUBTITLE: Catherine Hubbard, 6. Chase Kowalski, 7. Jesse Lewis, 6.

LAURA PHELPS, MOTHER OF 2 CHILDREN AT SANDY HOOK;: I mean, when things happen to your children and to other people's children. I mean, I can't look at my children's faces now without seeing the faces of every one of their schoolmates.

SUBTITLE: Ana Marquez-Greene, 6. James Mattioli, 6. Grace McDonnell, 7. Anne Marie Murphy, 52.

Emilie Parker, 6. Jack Pinto, 6. Noah Pozner, 6.

Caroline Previdi, 6. Jessica Rekos, 6. Avielle Richman, 6. Lauren Rousseau, 30.

Mary Sherlach, 56. Victoria Soto, 27. Benjamin Wheeler, 6. Allison Wyatt, 6.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BOLDUAN: So unbelievably sad. Those images so, so unbelievably powerful.

For more information on how you can help those affected by this shooting, you can go to CNN.com/impact.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLACKWELL: I'm Victor Blackwell at CNN world headquarters in Atlanta.

Here are some of the things happening this morning that we're following:

Just 16 days before the U.S. could hit the fiscal cliff, now, in Washington, there could be a deal. At least they're close to a deal, possibly. A source close to the talks tells CNN that House Speaker John Boehner is willing to hike taxes on the wealthiest Americans. That's something the president says must be included in any plan.

But Speaker Boehner previously called tax increases on top earners a nonstarter. His office says there is no deal.

President Obama appears set to nominate Senator John Kerry as his next secretary of state. United Nations Ambassador Susan Rice was the expected choice, but you remember she pulled her name out of the running because of the controversy over her comments in the wake of the Benghazi attacks. The formal announcement could come this week.

Outgoing Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is resting at home after suffering a concussion. She has been battling a stomach virus and fainted. Her office says it's not severe. But Clinton will be forced to skip her appearance in front of the House Foreign Relations Committee this week. She was expected to testify on Thursday about the attack in Benghazi, Libya, on September 11th.

No child should ever have to go through what the children at Sandy Hook Elementary School went through. And now the children who survived that must get through the days ahead with what they've endured. A lot of us are having difficult conversations with our children, with our families and we're having some conflicted feelings internally.

I want to bring in licensed clinical psychologist Erik Fisher to talk about this.

Erik, we talked during the break and we talked a lot about how to speak to the kids.

ERIK FISHER, CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGIST: Right. BLACKWELL: But before we go to kids, there are a lot of adults who are having a really difficult time coming to terms with this internally. I told you, I was out shopping for my goddaughter who is 7 yesterday and almost started tearing up in the Target store. Is it OK to show that emotion to children?

FISHER: Absolutely. You know, what I'm kind of seeing this process, is almost a vicarious grief that we see the grieving other people are going through and what their kids so many of us fear losing them that when we see other people's loss, it brings out our own fears and we almost played out in our heads and minds and we go through that grieving process without necessarily having to.

So, we have to see as adults, it is perfectly OK to show emotion. It's OK to let your kids see some tears and say I really feel sad about -- and if they don't about the event, then I really feel said about some things that happened around us.

BLACKWELL: So, reject that feeling to be stoic, to just be still and the strong, stable one.

FISHER: Exactly. Because to me, it takes more courage to show the emotion, the sadness and things like than it does to just put a brave face on. I know we want to be strong for our kids, but sometimes being strong for our kids is being real and honest and letting them know, you know, sometimes I don't always have to be in charge of my feelings and you don't either.

Manage them, talk about them because when they build up, then you can have a delayed grieving process that could come up in other situations.

BLACKWELL: Let's go to Newtown. There's a couple we spoke with their two children survived the shooting. We want it listen to what they said and we'll talk about it on the other side.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DIANE LICATA, MOTHER OF TWO SANDY HOOK STUDENTS: We had to put the sign out in the front today asking people not to ring the doorbell because he still hasn't internalized the fact that this gunman, this bad guy is gone. And he wants to know if there are more bad guys in the world and I don't know how to answer that question properly.

And so, when someone rings the doorbell, he thinks it's him coming back, coming for him. And, so, he, you know, he -- so, I think our biggest concern now is making sure that we handle his sensitive nature properly and carefully.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLACKWELL: He wants to know if there are more bad guys in the world and if this specific bad guy is coming back for him. They don't know how to answer it. How do they answer it?

FISHER: I think you let them know that as parents, it's our place and our job to protect you. In the school, it's their job to protect you and things are in place. We can't make promises to kids that nothing will happen, because promises can't always be kept. Even in a situation, a promise couldn't be kept.

We have to let them know that in life, events may happen, however, it's how we move through them and as a family, we love and support you, we take care of you, we're here to make sure you get the help and support that you need and, you know, he's got a whole process to move through, as well as a grieving process. There's also survivor's guilt process that he may go through as well as the fear that someone may come out of nowhere and cause harm.

So, this is going to be a long process for him to work through.

BLACKWELL: I think one of the common questions that parents are going to have to answer, is this going to happen at my school? Is this going to happen where I play? What do you tell them? Because you can't promise.

FISHER: Right.

BLACKWELL: What do you say?

FISHER: You let them know that, again, these are the things that are in place to help keep you safe. You have a plan. Set up a plan of, where do I go if this happens? Who do I call if something happens? The more that there's preparations, the more people have a plan, the less fear is likely to step in.

There's going to be a process or time when kids are going to be in that place, if they know about this event. My daughter has no idea what is going on, we kept the TVs off around her purposely. But, you know, even without talking about it, making sure she knows where to go if something happens or who to call is important.

BLACKWELL: You know, there's one thing, I know we're running low on time, but there was one time when Adam Lanza was as innocent as the children he killed.

FISHER: Right.

BLACKWELL: And the children will want to know, why did he do this? There may not be enough time that we get the answers from the investigation, what do you tell your children now about why he would do this?

FISHER: That sometimes we don't always know why they do the things they do, however, if we can pull together as the community and make sure kids aren't left behind, to make sure kids with needs or with family struggles or things have the connections they need in their community, to make sure they have support systems, that they know how to communicate, that they have people who are helping them to make through even what seems like a simple problem, that may be more difficult inside.

And that's what we see in these situations, is kids store things inside that build up to these issues.

BLACKWELL: All right. Licensed psychologist Erik Fisher, thank you so much.

FISHER: Thanks for having me.

BLACKWELL: We'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(VIDEO CLIP PLAYS)

BERMAN: This was from "Saturday Night Live" last night. One of the truly most poignant tributes I've ever seen. Nothing but kids singing "Silent Night." There's no comedy monologue open. It was this in tribute to the victims of the horrible shooting in Newtown, Connecticut.

Bravo, "Saturday Night Live."

BOLDUAN: It was very moving to see. Still moving to see it again this morning.

We should tell you, President Obama, he plans to travel to Connecticut today. He will meet with some of the families and, as well as -- he will meet with some of the families and attend a vigil here in Newtown to -- and also to be thanking first responders here in Newtown. He'll be speaking at that vigil. And, obviously, something that I think many of the victims and the families and many of the people grieving here are looking -- are looking for at this moment.

BERMAN: The deadly shooting that shattered this quiet New England town is also reignited ongoing debate about the gun laws in America. Everyone is just talking about that right now.

Our White House correspondent Brianna Keilar has more.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BRIANNA KEILAR, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Just hours after the Connecticut shooting, a promise from President Obama to tackle gun violence.

BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: We're going to have to come together and take meaningful action to prevent more tragedies like this, regardless of the politics.

KEILAR: But what exactly does he mean by "meaningful action"? Critics of the president's record on the issue are pressing for specific proposals.

New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg said, "Calling for 'meaningful action' is not enough. We need immediate action. We heard all the rhetoric before. What we have not seen is leadership. Not from the White House and not from Congress." Gun violence has not been a priority for the Obama administration. As he ran for president in 2008, he supported running a ban on assault weapons.

OBAMA: Don't tell me we can't uphold the Second Amendment while keeping AK-47s out of the hands of criminals.

KEILAR: Once selected, he did not make good on his campaign pledge. After his first year in office, the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence gave the president across the board F's on its report card.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The Senate will come to order.

KEILAR: A major obstacle for the president, Congress, where even in the Democratic-controlled Senate, there has been little appetite to touch the controversial issue. Multiple gun control bills have been introduced, not a single one has made it to the floor for a vote. Those involved in the debate over guns say the president has number of options, reinstating some form of the assault weapons ban that expired in 1994, banning high-count magazines or improving the reporting of people with mental health issues to make sure they are disqualified from purchasing firearms.

Polls show Americans have become accustomed to daily reports of gun deaths. Friday morning, a shooter killed a Memphis police officer who was a mother of four. Friday night, a man shot and killed a woman working at a Las Vegas hotel before killing himself. Early Saturday morning in Birmingham, Alabama, police killed a gunman inside a hospital where three people were hurt.

But New York Congresswoman Carolyn McCarthy whose husband died and son was injured when a shooter opened fire on a Long Island train in 1993 said the Connecticut shooting may be what forces President Obama and Congress to finally address the problem.

REP. CAROLYN MCCARTHY (D), NEW YORK: Let's face it, we need to have the president as the bully pulpit on trying to get something done. This time what I saw was different, that politicians that usually don't talk about it were talking about it. So, there is a difference this time around. There is a difference maybe the pendulum is turning and the country is ready to get serious about this issue.

KEILAR (on camera): White House spokesman Jay Carney said Friday, it's the time to express sympathy for victims' families, not the time to engage in a policy debate. But I spoke with Congresswoman McCarthy and she said she called up the White House and said, what are you talking about? This is something we should have been discussing for years.

Brianna Keilar, CNN, the White House.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK) BOLDUAN: Hey, there. Welcome back to CNN's continuing coverage of the tragedy at Sandy Hook, Elementary. We are here in Newtown, Connecticut. Just heading towards the bottom of the hour.

I am Kate Bolduan. John Berman will be back to join me in just a few minutes.

Let's catch you up on what we know, though, right now, as we begin this Sunday. This afternoon, President Obama will head to Newtown, Connecticut, where he will meet with the families of the victims. The president will also speak at a vigil, an interfaith vigil tonight. Many people looking forward to hearing his words.

We also know 12 of the victims were boys and eight were girls. The medical examiner released the names of all of the victims yesterday. All of the children were either 6 or 7 years old. While six of the victims were adults, who worked at the school, all women working at the school.

And United Way, we should let you know, has set up a fund to collect donations for victims' families and the community as a whole. It's called the Sandy Hook School Support Fund. All donations will go directly to those affected -- many ways to impact your world today.

We still don't know much, though, about the shooter, Adam Lanza. So many questions, very few answers. But comments from relatives and former classmates have raised some question about what type of person he was.

I want to bring in CNN's chief medical correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta.

Sanjay, you've been on the ground, and hearing a lot of the same things we are. One thing that a source has told CNN -- that a relative says that Adam Lanza had a form of autism. And automatically, people kind of jumped to try to make connections. But you have to be very, very careful to try to connect this horrible violence to anything having to do with autism.

DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN CHIEF MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: I think so. And I think, Kate, you can probably even take it a step further. I mean, there really is just no evidence of a link between autism or Asperger's or anything sort of what we call the autism spectrum to planned violence. This idea that people have violent outbursts or reactive violence, there's been some notion of that.

But, you know, yesterday I decided to look into this a little bit more. One of the largest studies was of 132 people and one that everyone quotes. In that study, only three people had evidence of any violence whatsoever and that was always again this reactive violence. So I think we can probably dispel this myth that somehow autism contributed to this planned violence that we're talking about here.

BOLDUAN: And also, we have so many questions about the shooter and the families are just seeking for some answers. This whole community are seeking for answers and really just still reeling from this tragedy, there have been many support groups that have set up, but also a crisis center that was set up yesterday and you were telling me that you visited that crisis center.

What did you -- what did you see? What did you hear?

GUPTA: I don't know what to expect, Kate, it is so raw and whether or not people would just want to be at home with their families or actually go to a place like this. They wanted to go. I can tell you that. I mean, there was probably at least 100 cars in the parking lot.

It was a different elementary school, obviously, Reed Elementary School where they set this up. Psychiatrists, psychologists and children's counselors are all there. I think what was striking is families going in there and they were staying for some time, as well. So, there was not something where they were going for a short period of time.

And you really got the idea from talking to people that the community as a whole was almost an individual, meaning that instead of being isolated and sort of having to deal with that and the worsening feelings that might bring, just knowing that someone else is going through the same thing you were going through was part of the crisis center set up in time.

There's also phone lines from New Haven, for people that just simply pick up the phone and call. So, I think that that -- you know, it's hard to know what the impact will be, but, clearly, people wanted to use these services.

BOLDUAN: What I've been hearing since I've been on the ground and talking to many residents, so many parents, no matter what their children are. They're really struggling right to figure out how to tell their children about what's transpired. If they should -- how much detail to give them and really everyone is dealing with this on an own individual level and parents -- they need to be strong for their kids.

GUPTA: And I'll tell you, probably a lot of your viewers all over the country are having those discussions. You know, I don't live here, but my kids were asking me the same things. I have a 7, 5 and 3-year-old.

I will tell you that you want to be honest with something like this. And I think this whole -- my daughter wanted to know the names of people yesterday. She wanted to know the names of some of these children and she wanted to know if her school was going to be a safe place to go.

And I said this never happened in daddy's school. It never happened in mommy's school. Obviously, this happened now but we do all we can to keep you safe. As far as details go, I mean, everyone knows their kids best and the graphic details, I think, obviously, age appropriate sort of things. But I think that's probably less necessary than just letting them talk and then filling in some of the gaps for them. I think it's also important to remember that you got almost -- in medicine, we say you check your own pulse first before going into a situation. Check your own feelings first. It doesn't mean you don't share your feelings, but you also don't want to overwhelm them and overtalk the kids with your own feelings. You are there to support them even though sometimes it seems like they're supporting you, as well.

BOLDUAN: And, Sanjay, you're a neurosurgeon. So you know more about the brain and the mind than so many. I just want to quickly ask you, do you think as people are trying to find a motive, a reason why this man went into this school and did this horrific, evil act, do you think that it will come down to some kind of mental disorder, personality disorder?

GUPTA: I think there's a very good chance some sort of mental illness that maybe, again, not Asperger's or autism but something else maybe confounding this.

But, you know, having covered a lot of these stories tragically over the years and you know this as well, Kate, sometimes the answer is unknowable.

BOLDUAN: Exactly.

GUPTA: Sometimes we simply don't know. We were talking yesterday about -- I mean, this is a bit tough to talk about. There will be autopsies and looking at to try to answer these questions that you're asking and I doubt they're going to find something where they say, that's the answer.

BOLDUAN: Nothing is going to bring any comfort to those families.

GUPTA: Yes, I think you're right.

BOLDUAN: Dr. Sanjay Gupta, as always, thank you so much. It's great to see you.

GUPTA: You, too. Thank you.

BOLDUAN: Thank you.

And Sanjay, a doctor and father himself of three young girls, as he was saying -- we'll be back in a few minutes with some advice on how not to talk to your kids about the tragedy and how -- you've probably have some tips on how you should talk to your kids about this tragedy.

Sanjay, thank you so much.

I do just want to correct an earlier report right here on CNN that we reported on earlier, the young victims were, in fact, 12 girls and eight boys. We apologize for that mistake. Many moving parts here as we cover this story. We want to tell you, there are so many incredible stories to tell you about. One of the youngest victims, we'll tell you about one of the youngest victims in a moment, but, first, here are the names and ages of all 26 people killed at Sandy Hook elementary school.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR: Last night friends and mourners gathered in Stratford, Connecticut, to remember Sandy Hook Elementary School teacher Victoria Soto.

You know, you can see several in the people in the crowd were wearing green. That was Victoria's favorite color. The first grade teacher was killed on Friday morning. She died trying to protect her students. Victoria Soto, she was just 27 years old.

BERMAN: Emilie Parker was just 6 years old. She's another one of the victims of this tragedy.

Her father spoke publicly and very emotionally last night. He's one of the only parents to come forward to talk openly about their terrible loss. It's because he said he wants everyone to know how special his little girl was.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ROBERT PARKER, DAUGHTER EMILIE WAS KILLED IN SHOOTING: I would really like to offer our deepest condolences to all the families who are directly affected by this shooting. It's a horrific tragedy and we want everybody to know that our hearts and our prayers go out to them. This includes the family of the shooter. I can't imagine how hard this experience must be for you. And I want you to know that our family and our love and support goes out to you, as well.

My daughter, Emilie, would be one of the first ones to be standing and giving her love and support to all those victims, because that's the type of person that she is. Not because of any parenting that my wife and I could have done, but because those are the gifts that were given to her by her heavenly father.

I have two really good friends at home who set up a Facebook page to help raise money for Emilie and when I've gotten on that and just seen the number of people who have commented and expressed their condolences, it's been quite overwhelming.

As the deep pain begins to settles into our hearts, we find comfort reflecting on the incredible person that Emilie was and how many lives that she was able to touch in her short time on earth. Emilie was bright, creative and very loving. Emilie was always willing to try new things, other than food. She loved to use her talents to touch the lives of everyone she came into contact with. She was an exceptional artist and she always carried around her markers and pencils so she never missed an opportunity to draw a picture or make a card for those around her.

I can't count the number of times Emilie noticed someone feeling sad or frustrated and would rush to find a piece of paper to draw them a picture or to write them an encouraging note. Emilie's card-making was expressed beautifully this last October when she placed a very special card that she had made into the casket with her grandpa, who also just recently died of a tragic accident.

Emilie was a mentor to her two little sisters and delighted in teaching them to read, dance and find the simple joys in life. Emilie's laughter was infectious and all those who had the pleasure to meet her would agree that this world is a better place because she had been in it. She was their best friend. They were all born within three years of each other, so, by law, they're very close.

She was teaching my middle daughter to read. She would help my youngest daughter learn how to make things, show her how to do crafts. They looked up to her. And they looked to her when they needed comfort. Usually that's, that's saved for a mom and dad. But it was really sweet to see the times when one of them would fall or get their feelings hurt how they would run to Emilie to get support and hugs and kisses.

She was the type of person that would just light up a room. She always had something kind to say about anybody. Her love and the strength that she gave us, and the example that she showed to us is remarkable. She is an incredible person. And I'm so blessed to be her dad.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BOLDUAN: Emilie and her family moved to Newtown from Utah just earlier this year. She will be laid to rest back in Utah.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BERMAN: This tragedy hitting every part of our culture this weekend. FOX Television has pulled episodes of their popular comedy series "Family Guy," also "American Dad". They were supposed to air tonight. They did that out of respect for the victims.

Tom Cruise was supposed to be in Pittsburgh last night for the preview of his new movie, the premiere "Jack Reacher." But the studio cancelled the event because of the shooting in Connecticut. That film movie begins with the scene involving a sniper attack.

Several NFL teams planned their tributes to the victims today. The New York Giants, the New York Jets and the New England Patriots all plan to wear patches or decals to honor the victims when they take the field today.

It is so hard to make sense out of a tragedy like this, the one at the Sandy Hook Elementary School. In fact, it's so hard for anyone to wrap their heads around it, let alone children -- which is why I want to bring in our chief medical correspondent, Sanjay Gupta.

Sanjay, this has been an emotional story for all of us. And parents around the country, including me, I'm a parent to 5 year olds and you're a parent. GUPTA: Yes.

BERMAN: We're trying to figure out what do we tell our kids before they go to school tomorrow?

GUPTA: You know, the one thing I think is important and I know your kids don't really know yet what has happened, but so many kids still find out, John. I think it's important to realize that even with the TV off, talking to other people, as you say, it's a story that has really everyone in the country has talked about.

So, you have to assume that your kids are going to know something. I think at that point to be transparent. I don't the right answer to it either, John. I have been talking to people. I have a 7, 5 and 3-year-old. My 7-year-old asked me the names of the children. They want to humanize this immediately. That's just their instinct, I think.

But then, you know, to fill in details as is appropriate for the age. I mean, obviously, not being too graphic, but also not, in any way, not being truthful. So, you know, she asked about her own school and if it was safe. I reminded her, look, this never happened to daddy's school, it never happened to mommy's school and it's happened here. We're going to do everything we can to make you safe. I think it's important, and also to say that this was a man, you know, that did this sort of these things.

You know, again, this sounds simplistic, I think, but I think it makes a difference, and it's going to be a maturing experience as hard as it is to say for all kids. But I think this is part of it.

BERMAN: Do you wait for them to come to you? I mean, I ask this selfishly. You know, should I be waiting to talk to them or should I say preemptively, proactively go to them and say, hey, listen, something really bad has happened?

GUPTA: The advice seems to be that you do -- you let them dictate the conversation. And even when they start dictating the conversation and asking about it -- even to ask, what do you know? What have you heard? -- first to get an idea where they are, and then start to answer some questions.

But you don't want to overtalk them. And I mentioned this earlier, but in medicine we say, check you're own pulse first before going into a situation. Checking your own feelings a little bit as well. You know, the goal I imagined, John, for you and for me is to be a source of support for them. In order to do that you got to make sure you have your own feelings in check.

It's hard. I mean, I spent a lot of last night just when I should have been sleeping thinking about this -- I'm sure you did as well.

BERMAN: You know, you say you want to be a source of support for them. The truth is they've actually been a source of support for me this weekend. Seeing them has meant so much to me while I've been covering this.

What are the signs you look for in children, besides the questions, once they do find out, the next few days, what to look for to make sure they're handling this well?

GUPTA: It's very important, because, you know, we think of PTSD as something adults experience, children can as well, even young children, for example. Even three to four months out, about three- quarters of children have some form of PTSD to children who are most expose to the violence saw something whether, you know, first hand, or even on television, are the most traumatized with this sort of thing.

It's not flashbacks typically. It's not hyper-vigilance that we associate with adults. Oftentimes, just changes in their play. They may regress a little bit for example. They may have temper tantrums. So, these sorts of things.

Sleep, very important, John. Over the next few days if your child is sleeping well, they're likely to cope well in the long run.

BERMAN: All right. Dr. Sanjay Gupta, thank you very much.

GUPTA: Thank you very much.

BERMAN: It's been very helpful to me. I'm sure it's very helpful to everyone out there. We'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

VICTOR BLACKWELL, CNN ANCHOR: I'm Victor Blackwell here at the CNN headquarters in Atlanta.

Here's at look at other stories we're watching this morning.

In the Philippines, the toll from a devastating typhoon continues to climb. Authorities say more than 1,000 people have died and it's feared the number will go higher since more than 800 people are still missing. Many are fishermen who were at sea when the storm struck. The homes of more than a million families have been damaged or destroyed.

The first round of voting on a new constitution for Egypt is over. Round two happens next weekend. Egypt's ruling freedom and justice party says most people that went to the polls this weekend voted in favor of the draft charter. But rights group say there have been complaints of voter intimidation, bribery and other violations.

All right. Back at home and really back at home, this mom is from Afghanistan back from the war, and she gave her kids an early holiday surprise. Watch.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIIFED MALE: Blindfolds off, guys. Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome, Petty Officer Aisha (ph). She's been in Afghanistan.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLACKWELL: Just in time for the holidays. I'll have more news from around the world in 15 minutes.

Our coverage of the Newtown, Connecticut, shooting continues right now.